10 March 2002
Satcoms
Best Western International Renews and Expands VSAT Services
Agreement
CTTNet
and HitPops Deploy SkyStream Broadband Content Delivery
Fleet Management Contract for
Fleetedge
Hughes
Network Systems and HP Establish Alliance
PanAmSat Signs 10 Year Deal with
TARBS
Military
Space
Boeing Funded for
First Two Wideband Gapfiller Satellites
Manned
Space
Shuttle
Astronauts Upgrade Hubble in Series of Spacewalks
Spacehab Awarded Two New Space
Station Missions
Technology
NASA's FUSE Observatory Rescued
Pioneer 10 Still Going
Strong
Business
EADS Plans to Reshuffle Space Business
Intelsat Announces Planned IPO
Leading Satellite
Operators Create European Satellite Operators Association
Nera Satellite Services Changes
Name
TRW Rejects
Northrop Bid
Products and Services
Intelsat Announces New Internet Trunking Service
Stratos Launches
Satelan Packet Data Service
People
NASA Names Associate Administrators
Best
Western
International Renews and Expands VSAT Services Agreement
Hughes
Network Systems Inc (HNS) has announced a contract with Best Western
International for DirecWay broadband services. This agreement, which includes
all Best Western hotels in the United States, represents a significant contract
award for the company.
The world's largest hotel chain
initially contracted with HNS in 1995 for its first very small aperture
terminal (VSAT) satellite network, supporting the company's reservation system
and related back-office applications. In 1998, the network was expanded to
include all properties in North America. With this announcement, Best Western
International now leads the industry by providing all of its members broadband
network connectivity.
The contract also includes provisions for
including future DirecWay services to be offered on the HNS Spaceway platform,
starting in 2004.
Spaceway satellites will operate in the
higher-frequency Ka band, which offers more bandwidth and faster transmission
speeds, by factors of up to 100 times. Combined with on-board high-speed
switching, Spaceway is fundamental to spurring the growth of even higher-speed,
value-added DirecWay services.
CTTNet and HitPops Deploy SkyStream Broadband Content
Delivery
SkyStream Networks has announced that HitPops Inc, one
of Japan's leading content delivery networks, has deployed SkyStream's Source
Media and Edge Media routers (SMRs and EMRs) to deliver new broadband services
to consumers throughout Japan. In addition, China Transport &
Telecommunication Broadband Network Service Co Ltd (CTTNet) has selected
SkyStream's Source Media and Edge Media Routers (SMRs and EMRs) and zBand
Content Delivery Platform to support the distribution of its new managed
enterprise services including corporate communications, distance learning and
digital data delivery.
HitPops intends to introduce new
consumer services including: television news and entertainment, video on
demand, and large file downloads such as games, music and other popular
software.
CTTNet, a new joint venture between China's Ministry of
Transport and Communication (MTC), and several other Chinese investors,
recently announced the initial deployment of its US$ 1.3 million broadband
network in Beijing. As part of the company's plans to become one of the leading
providers of public Internet access and private IP network solutions in China,
CTTNet will deploy SkyStream's leading networking equipment and content
delivery software to power the distribution of its managed enterprise services
via satellite. CTTNet plans to focus on securing enterprise customers through
several organisations affiliated with the founding partners who have already
committed to the use of CTTNet's services and will gradually expand into other
markets.
The China Transport & Telecommunication Broadband Network
Service Co Ltd (CTTNet) was initiated by Beijing Shipping Communication
Navigation Co, which belongs to China's Ministry of Transport and Communication
(MTC). According to the Satellite VAST and ICP Fare License, CTTNet will build
the integration satellite VAST network, with the newest satellite BDB-DVB/IP
communications technology as the nucleus. CTTNet's integrated satellite
platform includes remote data applications for government and corporate
institutions as well as hotels, office buildings, uptowns and locomotive
carriers.
SkyStream's Source Media Router (SMR) is an intelligent
network device that enables satellite operators and television broadcasters to
deliver Internet content to multiple locations or viewers simultaneously,
ensuring maximum scalability and accessibility to high-bandwidth content.
The Edge Media Router (EMR) resides at the edge of enterprise networks or
in service provider POPs and extracts IP content from incoming DVB MPEG-2
transport streams routing it via 10/100 Fast Ethernet onto corporate LAN or
last-mile broadband networks for multi-point delivery. The EMR is an integral
part of SkyStream's end-to-end solution for delivering Internet content via
broadcast networks.
The zBand Content Delivery Platform provides tools
for aggregation, content delivery, management, targeting and presentation, in a
single open platform that is secure, scalable, and reliable.
Fleet Management Contract for Fleetedge
B&B
Equipment Rentals of Lakeside, California has awarded a contract to FleetEdge
Equipment Intelligence System for the management of their heavy equipment
rental fleet. Developed by a management team with extensive backgrounds in the
construction equipment industry, the FleetEdge system combines the latest
wireless technology with industry expertise to enable companies in
construction, rental and heavy equipment markets to reduce costs by using newly
developed intelligence on their fleets.
The FleetEdge
system utilizes the QHE-2500 hardware from Quake Global Inc of San Diego. The
QHE-2500 is a global, two-way messaging communicator used for tracking and
remote monitoring applications over the Orbcomm satellite network. The QHE-2500
is a complete, durable, self-contained, sealed watertight unit with the
satellite antennas concealed within the unit, thereby reducing exposure to
damage in the construction environment.
In collecting data received
from the fleet equipment via the QHE-2500 communicator, FleetEdge's Equipment
Intelligence System will provide accurate, reliable data on a company's fleet,
thus increasing equipment utilisation while decreasing maintenance and downtime
costs. Using the QHE-2500's boundary-monitoring capabilities, geographic
parameters can be set around the equipment where alerts are sent if the
equipment leaves the stated boundary through misuse or theft.
The
FleetEdge System collects and interprets data over time and by utilising this
historical information, managers are able to make better maintenance and
planning decisions directly impacting productivity and the bottom line. For
example, the reports give customers insight into the factors that influence
cost and tonnage, not just raw numbers. With intelligence provided by
FleetEdge, companies can make educated buying and selling decisions regarding
their equipment.
Hughes Network Systems and HP Establish Alliance
Hughes Network
Systems Inc (HNS) and Hewlett-Packard Company have announced a strategic
alliance to jointly market a managed suite of content delivery services for
enterprise customers. The new HNS offering will be available under the name
DirecWay Content Delivery Services (CDS).
DirecWay CDS is a suite of
managed services that include multicast streaming, multicast delivery,
video-on-demand and network acceleration. Enterprises can immediately support a
variety of business applications such as real-time corporate communications,
distance learning, and mission-critical Internet back-up.
As an
integrated solution, DirecWay CDS delivers bandwidth-intensive content via HNS'
continent-wide satellite broadband network, reaching virtually any enterprise
location. Content is sent directly to an HP media cache appliance loaded with
specially developed Inktomi caching software at each enterprise site, thereby
avoiding Internet congestion and improving overall utilisation efficiency of
the existing WAN infrastructure. Users can then access particular content,
which is intelligently preloaded at each site, faster and more cost-effectively
than what is achievable through alternative terrestrial solutions.
Other IP multicasting solutions often require network upgrades or change-outs,
such as routers, which can be an expensive and disruptive proposition that
still leaves "last mile" issues unresolved. DirecWay CDS is scaleable to fit
each customer's requirements and comes packaged with several value-added, IP
multicast features, including encryption, intelligent caching and streaming
compatibility with Real Networks, Windows Media, and Quicktime.
Under
the terms of the agreement, HNS joins the HP Service Provider Program (SPP) as
a Select level member. The HP SPP is designed to dramatically accelerate the
market adoption of service offerings, thereby furthering HP's vision of
"service-centric computing." Features of the HP SPP include co-selling and
incentive programs, co-marketing, joint solutions development, and a
comprehensive, end-to-end infrastructure, applications and operations
certification program.
PanAmSat Signs 10 Year Deal with TARBS
PanAmSat Corporation has
announced a new 10-year, multi-transponder sales agreement with Television
& Radio Broadcasting Services (TARBS), Australia's leading multicultural
broadcaster, to launch a new direct-to-home (DTH) television platform in the
United States.
In addition to using multiple
international satellites in PanAmSat's fleet for DTH and contribution services
in the Asia-Pacific, TARBS will now broadcast more than 50 channels of
multicultural television programming direct to consumers' homes in the United
States over the Galaxy XR North American satellite.
In total, this new
sales agreement consists of C and Ku band capacity on the PAS-2 and PAS-8
Pacific Ocean Region satellites, the PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellite and
the Galaxy XR spacecraft. TARBS has been a PanAmSat customer since 1999, when
it launched an ethnic programming DTH platform in Australia over the company's
PAS-8 satellite.
TARBS will use PanAmSat's PAS-2, PAS-8 and PAS-10
satellites to deliver a wide array of ethnic programming, covering more than 20
languages, from throughout Europe and Asia to their broadcast operations centre
in Sydney, Australia. There, TARBS will combine the contributed feeds with
in-house produced channels for transmission to PanAmSat's Napa, California
teleport facility. The multicultural programming bouquet will uplink to Galaxy
XR for broadcast throughout North America.
Boeing Funded for First Two Wideband Gapfiller Satellites
Boeing
Space and Communications (S&C) has received US$ 336.4 million in funding
from the US Air Force to build the first two satellites in the Wideband
Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system.
The contract also
includes long-lead material for a third satellite. With all options exercised,
the contract for up to six satellites has a total potential value of US$ 1.3
billion. WGS is a multi-spacecraft constellation designed to provide improved
communications support to America's warfighters.
Boeing Satellite
Systems, the satellite-manufacturing arm of Boeing S&C, will build the
Boeing 702 model satellites in El Segundo, California. The first satellite is
scheduled to launch in early 2004, with the second one to follow in 2005.
The January 2001 contract for US$ 160.3 million covered design and advance
parts procurement for WGS, a high-capacity satellite communications system that
will support the warfighter with newer and far greater capabilities than those
provided by current systems. The WGS program also successfully passed the
preliminary design review milestone last August. Design will continue through
this summer while the team begins producing payload units for integration into
the satellite early next year. The ground control equipment is being developed
in parallel. The first launch of a WGS satellite will take place aboard a
Boeing Delta IV rocket provided by the Air Force through the Evolved Expendable
Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.
As WGS prime contractor and overall
systems integrator, Boeing leads a team of satellite communications industry
leaders. Harris Corp. supplies expertise in terminal and payload interfaces as
well as the satellite Ka band antenna subsystem. ITT Industries is integrating
the payload control segment. Northrop Grumman Information Technology is leading
the effort in system security engineering. Science Applications International
Corp. (SAIC) supports the overall WGS systems engineering effort.
Shuttle Astronauts Upgrade Hubble in Series of Spacewalks
The
crew of NASA Shuttle mission STS-109 have spent the last week performing five
complex spacewalks during which they have performed a series of major upgrades
to the Hubble Space Telescope that should make the telescope ten times more
powerful.
The mission started with a perfect launch but
then there was a potentially mission-ending setback. Low coolant flow rate
through one of two coolant loops which controlled the temperature of avionics
during re-entry. Flight rules require that both cooling loops are operational
for a mission to continue. Following detailed analysis by engineers on the
ground it was decided that the faulty cooling loop was performing well enough
for the mission to continue.
The mission calls for a series of long
and complex spacewalks in which the astronauts will replace several key systems
on Hubble lengthening its lifetime and improving its performance.
On
Sunday the shuttle Columbia flew alongside the space telescope as the crew
grabbed the spacecraft with the shuttle's robot arm and manoeuvred in into the
shuttle's payload bay. Over the following five days the crew successfully
performed five spacewalks:
Monday: John Grunsfeld and Rick Linnehan
replaced one of Hubble's two solar arrays along with its associated electrical
support components (Diode Box Assembly). The third-generation solar arrays are
two-thirds the size of the arrays they are replacing, but will provide 20% more
power to the telescope. Because of their smaller size, the new arrays will
impart less atmospheric drag, slowing the rate at which Hubble's orbit
decays.
Tuesday: Jim Newman and Mike Massimino replaced Hubble's port
solar array and Diode Box Assembly. They also replaced a Reaction Wheel
Assembly (RWA) inside the telescope.
Wednesday: John Grunsfeld and
Rick Linnehan replaced Hubble's power control unit, or PCU, the central power
switching station that distributes electricity to all of the observatory's
systems and scientific instruments. In addition to eliminating an intermittent
problem with the old PCU, the new unit also is capable of handling the extra
20% of power output being generated from Hubble's newly installed set of solar
panels.
Thursday: Jim Newman and Mike Massimino replaced the last of
Hubble's original science instruments - the Faint Object Camera - with the
Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). They also installed an Electronic Support
Module for a new experimental cooling device to be installed on the fifth
spacewalk for the telescope's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object
Spectrometer.
Friday: John Grunsfeld and Rick Linnehan installed the
Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cooling System.
NICMOS was installed on the second servicing mission to Hubble in 1997. The
camera operates at extremely low temperatures and its solid-nitrogen cooling
block was depleted earlier than expected. Engineers hope the new neon gas
cooling system will restore the cold temperatures necessary for the camera to
operate.
Spacehab Awarded Two New Space Station Missions
Spacehab Inc has signed a contract modification with
NASA worth US$ 42.4 million to provide its pressurised Logistics Single Module
(LSM) and unpressurised Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) for two new
International Space Station (ISS) assembly and cargo resupply missions.
These two new missions, STS-116 (12A.1) and STS-118 (13A.1),
were added to Spacehab's Research and Logistics Mission Support contract with
NASA and are currently on NASA's Space Shuttle manifest to launch in calendar
year 2003. Spacehab will commence work on the missions immediately. These
LSM/ICC flights will be Spacehab's sixth and seventh resupply missions to the
ISS.
The dual assembly and resupply objectives of each of these two
missions are ideally suited for Spacehab's inventory of modules (single and
double) and pallet carriers (horizontal and vertical). NASA's selection of the
LSM and horizontal ICC configuration for each of these new missions allows for
co-manifesting of critical ISS structural elements and Orbital Replacement Unit
(ORU) subsystem components. Along with modifications made to the Space Shuttle
Columbia, Spacehab's flexibility in locating its carriers within the shuttle
cargo bay is enabling NASA to use this orbiter for missions to the ISS, marking
STS-118 as Columbia's first visit to the orbiting space station.
Spacehab's next shuttle flight, STS-107, is a dedicated research mission
currently scheduled to launch in July 2002. This mission will debut the flight
of Spacehab's Research Double Module, a US$ 100 million asset. This flight also
marks the 18th mission for Spacehab, which has achieved nearly US$ 500 million
in revenue for supporting NASA research and logistics missions.
NASA's FUSE Observatory Rescued
NASA's Far Ultraviolet
Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spacecraft, which has been out of service since
December after critical guidance components failed, was returned to full
operations when the team developed an innovative new guidance system. The
system uses a complex new set of procedures that lets controllers use
electromagnets in the satellite to push and pull on the Earth's magnetic field.
Experts had speculated about such an approach as a fallback for failing
satellite guidance systems, but it had never been employed to steer a satellite
with the exacting accuracy needed for scientific observations.
The guidance system problems involved FUSE's reaction
wheels. FUSE is equipped with four reaction wheels - three primary and a
backup. Controllers use reaction wheels to steady and point the satellite, but
to work the wheels must be spinning. One reaction wheel in FUSE stopped
spinning in November, and a second stopped in December, leaving FUSE with only
two working reaction wheels. This automatically put the satellite into a
pre-programmed "safe mode" configuration on December 10, 2001.
Scientists and engineers at The Johns Hopkins University, NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center, Orbital Sciences Corporation and Honeywell Technology Solutions
Inc worked for several weeks to develop a solution. FUSE is operated for NASA
by Hopkins.
To make up for the missing reaction wheels, scientists and
engineers developed new sets of procedures and software that let them use
equipment known as magnetic torquer bars in a new way. Controllers can generate
local magnetic fields by running electric current through FUSE's three torquer
bars, and can flip the polarity of these fields by changing the direction of
current flow.
Engineers have demonstrated pointing capability to less
than 1/4000th of a degree, which allows the team to lock on to guide stars and
point FUSE steadily to make science observations. The team is still fine-tuning
the new guidance systems.
FUSE was launched on June 24, 1999, on a
three-year primary science mission to probe several fundamental aspects of the
universe, including the conditions shortly after the Big Bang, the creation and
dispersal of chemical elements, and the properties of gas clouds that form
stars and planetary systems. NASA has since recommended an additional two-year
extension beyond the prime mission. FUSE's international partners are the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
(CNES).
Pioneer 10 Still Going Strong
On Friday last week,
scientists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Deep Space Network in
Goldstone, California, sent a signal to the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, which is
still hurtling toward the fringes of the solar system. Twenty-two hours later
researchers at the network's facility in Madrid, Spain, carefully monitoring a
70-meter dish antenna, heard Pioneer's response.
NASA
previously lost contact with Pioneer 10 in August 2000, but made contact again
in April of last year by switching the spacecraft to a different communications
mode. NASA most recently made contact with the spacecraft on July 9, 2001.
Launched on March 2, 1972, Pioneer 10, built by TRW Inc, Redondo Beach,
California, is now 7.4 billion miles from Earth.
TDRS I
Launched: March 2002
Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Florida
Launcher: Atlas 2A
Orbit: GEO, 150° W
International
Number: 2002-011A
Name: TDRS I
Owner: NASA
Contractor: Boeing Space
and Communications
TDRS I is a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
used to relay data from the International Space Station, NASA's shuttle fleet
and several science satellites.
TDRS I is based on the Boeing 601
platform. It is the second of three satellites being manufactured by Boeing
Space and Communications for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The first
satellite of the latest generation, TDRS-H, was successfully launched on 30
June 2000. The third satellite, TDRS-J, is scheduled for delivery in November
2002.
TDRS-I has a launch mass of 3189 kg and an on-station mass of
1514 kg. Its solar arrays generate 2200 W of electrical power. It has the
following capabilities:
TDRS-I also features these new capabilities:
Upon successful completion of on-orbit testing, NASA will formally accept ownership of the spacecraft, renaming it TDRS-9.
EADS Plans to Reshuffle Space Business
The
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is planning to reorganise
its satellite and launching activities in a move that could result in large job
losses.
The company aimed to reduce costs at its Ariane
aerospace business by 50%, representing total savings of US$ 300-400 million
dollars.
As part of its reorganisation plan, EADS intended to separate
its satellite and launcher activities into two distinct entities by the end of
this year.
Intelsat Announces Planned IPO
Intelsat Ltd has announced
its intention to conduct an initial public offering of its ordinary shares in
an amount of approximately US$ 500 million.
In addition,
it is anticipated that Intelsat Ltd's current shareholders will be offered the
opportunity to sell ordinary shares in the offering. It is also anticipated
that the initial public offering would occur before the end of this year. It is
currently expected that a registration statement relating to the initial public
offering will be filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in
mid-2002. The purposes of the initial public offering are to raise money for
general corporate purposes and to repay outstanding debt, and to comply with
the Open-Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International
Telecommunications Act (known as the ORBIT Act). The ORBIT Act requires
Intelsat Ltd to complete an initial public offering by no later than 31
December 2002.
Nera Satellite Services Changes Name
Nera Satellite Services Ltd
is to change its name to NSSL Ltd with effect from April.
The UK-based company, jointly owned by Telenor Satellite
Services, Nera SatCom and Norwegian investment company Arendal Fossekompani ASA
is to take the new name to stress its independence from Nera and to show it
does more than just manufacture equipment but is a complete solution
provider.
Nera Satellite Services Ltd has provided mobile satellite
services on land and at sea for over 30 years, it has been an independent
accounting authority since 1969, and an Inmarsat service provider since
1996.
In 2000, Telenor and Arendal Fossekompani joined Nera AS as
shareholders by creating a holding company, Worldwide Mobile Communications AS
(WWMC). Telenor and Arendal Fossekompani each own a 40% stake in WWMC whith
Nera holding 20%.
Leading Satellite Operators Create European Satellite Operators
Association
The key executives of nine European satellite
operators met in Brussels on 1 March to sign the Articles of Association that
form the European Satellite Operators Association. ESOA, a non-profit
organisation to be based in Brussels, will represent the interests of European
satellite operators before key European organisations including the European
Commission, Parliament, Council and the European Space Agency as well as any
other relevant international organisations.
Founding
members of ESOA are: Europe*Star, Eutelsat SA, Hispasat, Inmarsat Ventures plc,
New Skies Satellites NV, Nordic Satellite AB, SES Global, Telenor Broadband
Services AS and Telespazio.
The General Meeting appointed the Board of
Directors, comprising the Chief Executive Officers or Chairmen of the Board of
each of the operators. The Board is led by Romain Bausch, President and CEO of
SES Global, who has been elected Chairman of the Board of ESOA and Jacinto
Garcia Palacios, CEO of Hispasat and Salvatore Pinto, CEO of Telespazio, as
Vice Chairmen of the Board, each of whom have been appointed for a one year
term.
An Executive Committee to support the Board will meet regularly
comprised of representatives of each satellite operator, and is led by Barry
Saunders, Eutelsat SA, Chairman, Andrew D'Uva, New Skies Satellites NV, Vice
Chairman and Christine Leurquin, SES Global, Treasurer.
TRW Rejects Northrop Bid
Following the rejection of an
unsolicited offer for TRW by the company's board, Northrop Grumman Corporation
has now made a hostile US$ 5.9 billion bid for TRW.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has commenced an exchange offer for all
outstanding shares of common stock and preference stock of TRW. Northrop's
offer values TRW at US$ 47 per share.
TRW's share price is currently
depressed following the departure of David Cote its former chairman, president
and chief executive officer.
That, however, may be the only thing that
Northrop Grumman's offer has going for it. TRW has its headquarters in Ohio, a
state with unusually strict corporate take over laws. Two days before the
Northrop Grumman made its offer public, the state made its regulatory controls
even stricter by passing a law which prevents shareholders form ousting a
staggered board without cause. Northrop intends to challenge this new law in
court. Other Ohio laws may be equally constraining, however. Companies are
prevented from acquiring more than 20% of another company's stock without the
authorisation of that company's shareholders. Also individuals are prohibited
from voting on a takeover if they have acquired more than US$ 250,000 of a
company's stock after the announcement of a takeover.
Intelsat Announces New Internet Trunking
Service
Intelsat Global Sales & Marketing Ltd has
announced the introduction of its new Intelsat Internet Trunking service, a
bundled offering that combines space segment and ground segment capabilities to
provide high-speed Internet backbone connectivity for Internet Service
Providers. Intelsat plans to make this service available on the Indian
sub-continent during the second quarter of this year.
Internet Trunking represents Intelsat's first offering of its Global
Connectivity Solutions services, which Intelsat expects will include other
services designed to meet customer demand for end-to-end solutions and to
provide one-stop shopping for customers' global communications needs.
Intelsat's Internet Trunking service is intended to give customers a one-stop
shopping solution for Internet access via satellite by providing an integrated
service that includes space segment capacity, a regional hub, teleport service
and access to the Internet backbone. The service will allow ISPs to support
traditional Internet applications such as web browsing, e-mail and file
transfers via satellite.
The Internet Trunking solution offers
point-to-point connectivity over a digital video broadcasting (DVB) platform.
Designed to be both flexible and scalable, Intelsat's new service is available
in three different configurations: Internet Trunking (standard), Dedicated User
Group and Dedicated. The number, size and growth potential of a customer's
service locations will determine which configuration will best suit its needs.
The Internet Trunking service is available directly through Intelsat or its
worldwide network of distributors.
The Standard configuration of the
Internet Trunking service provides asymmetric service, which mirrors Internet
traffic requirements by dedicating four times the amount of bandwidth on the
forward (downlink) channel than on the return (uplink) channel. Customers may
also tailor the forward/return bandwidth to meet their specific traffic
requirements.
Stratos Launches Satelan Packet Data Service
Stratos
has launched its new packet switched service, Satelan. This new IP
communication solution is a flexible, fast, and secure service for people who
need a full office solution on the move.
The Satelan
service offers users a choice between two types of communication channels:
packet switched (Internet Protocol) or circuit switched (PSTN or ISDN), which
means users now have the freedom to choose a packet data connection for more
casual data communication or 64 kb/s ISDN for time critical communication.
The advantage of the new IP channel - apart from the fact that it is
compatible with all IP based technologies - is that customers only pay for the
data sent and received and not for the length of time that they are connected.
Ideal for LAN / WAN network connectivity, web browsing, email, file transfer
and more, the 'always on' connection means that users can leave the connection
up, because once files or web pages are downloaded they can be read at leisure
without incurring the familiar costs normally associated with continuous
connectivity.
The ISDN channel on the other hand is perfect for
larger, time critical file transfers, video conferencing and anything that uses
the full bandwidth available. ISDN is more efficient in these cases because the
user has a full 64 kbps ISDN channel at their disposal which will enable high
speed data transfer and lower cost.
The Satelan service provides the
user with every communications tool they would normally have at their desk via
a small satellite terminal (weighing less than 5 kgs and the size of a laptop).
This is linked to a PC, enabling the user, regardless of their location in the
world - whether they are a business person sending emails from their hotel
room, a journalist reporting live from a war torn city or army personnel on
active duty keeping in touch with headquarters - to work as if they were docked
at their office with the full suite of modern technology at their fingertips.
The communication tools offered include Voice, Fax, Data, Email, Web browsing,
Video conferencing, Store-and-forward video, Image and File
transfer.
NASA Names Associate Administrators
NASA
Administrator Sean O'Keefe today named Frederick D Gregory as the Associate
Administrator for Space Flight, placing him permanently in charge of the
agency's Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise. Mary E Kicza
was also named Associate Administrator for Biological and Physical Research at
NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective March 11.
Gregory, 60, has served as Acting Associate Administrator for the office since
December, when he replaced Joseph H Rothenberg, who retired.
Astronaut
William F Readdy will remain in the critical senior leadership position of
Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight with expanded responsibilities
over major programs, operations and management of the Human Exploration and
Development of Space Enterprise.
Before accepting his appointment in
the Office of Space Flight, Gregory was the Associate Administrator for Safety
and Mission Assurance. The veteran astronaut was the senior executive
responsible for the safety and reliability of all NASA programs.
Kicza
is currently Associate Center Director at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Maryland.
At Goddard, she is the senior manager
responsible for co-ordinating and integrating all Goddard space science, Earth
science, and enabling technology programs and activities.
As Associate
Administrator, Kicza will manage an office dedicated to conducting basic and
applied research to support human exploration of space, and to taking advantage
of the space environment as a laboratory for scientific, technological and
commercial research.
She began her NASA career in 1982 at the Kennedy
Space Center in Florida, where she was lead systems engineer for the Centaur
Engineering Support Group and test co-ordinator for computer systems supporting
the program's tests and launches.
From 1994 to 1996, she was the
Assistant Associate Administrator for Technology for the Office of Space
Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. From 1992 to 1994, she held two
positions at the same time, serving as Deputy Division Director for the Office
of Space Science's Solar System Exploration Division and working as Program
Manager for the newly formed Discovery Program, which included the highly
successful Mars Pathfinder mission.
Prior to her current assignment at
Goddard, Kicza was Associate Center Director for Space Science Programs, where
she was the senior person responsible for management of all of the centre's
space science programs. While in the position, she also served as co-chair of
the team performing independent annual reviews of the International Space
Station and its research programs.
